Best Reviewed
DVRs - Digital Video Recorders
- Best DVR for cable subscribers Cable company DVR *Est. $8
- High-definition TiVo DVR TiVo Premiere *Est. $100
- DirecTV HD satellite receiver and DVR DirecTV Plus HD DVR *Est. $7
- Dish Network HD satellite receiver and DVR Dish Network ViP922 *Est. $200
Get info about new reports and updates
- Three tuners
- Can feed separate programs to two TVs
- Commercial skip
- Pause, rewind and fast-forward live TV
- Unattractive programming guide
- User interface is not as elegant as TiVo's
- Only new subscribers get the best pricing
We found the best reviews of the ViP722 at PC Magazine and CNet.com. Both are packed full of details yet not to the point where it becomes overwhelming. User discussions at DBSTalk.com and Satellite Guys are also helpful. The brief report at About.com doesn't shed much light, however.
Reviewers sometimes complain about Dish Network, but most call its ViP722 a winner among high-definition DVRs. It lacks the elegance of TiVo's user interface and electronic programming guide, and it can't be networked with a computer or the Internet, but just about everything else is present. A nice feature is that the output of the two tuners can be sent separately to two different TVs. Its generously sized hard drive can hold 55 hours of HD programming, or 350 hours of standard-definition fare. All of the typical DVR features -- including a true 30-second commercial skip -- are included. The response is generally described as very fast. The Dish Network ViP612 (price varies) is very similar but has less storage capacity (30 hours of HD and 200 hours of SD) and lacks the ability to send different programs to different TVs. It may be of interest to existing subscribers (only new subscribers can get the ViP722 at no upfront cost), because it is typically offered with a lower upgrade fee.
| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  1,219 store reviews | In Stock. Earn 2% eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases! Backed by eBay Buyer Protection Program. Terms and Conditions apply. | $239.00 | See It |
 | 1,219 store reviews | In Stock. Earn 2% eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases! Backed by eBay Buyer Protection Program. Terms and Conditions apply. | $399.00 | See It |
| See All Stores | ||||
Our Sources
PC Magazine is impressed with the Dish Network ViP722, naming it an Editors' Choice. Recording capacity is cited as one big plus, as is an interface that's clean and easy to use. While this report is not extremely long, all of the important details are well covered.
Review: Dish Network ViP722 Review, Brian K. Neal, Jan. 11, 2008
2. CNET
This review is based on CNet.com's report on the discontinued Dish Network ViP622, which is identical save for less recording capacity. The report is long and detailed. CNet.com names the DVR an Editors' Choice, saying, "The Dish Network ViP622 and 722 are among the most fully featured and versatile high-def DVRs you can buy today."
Review: Dish Network ViP722 HD DVR Review, David Katzmaier, Feb. 19, 2008
3. DBSTalk.com
This busy support form for Dish Network's DVRs, including the ViP722, is chock full of news, views and reviews. A multipage "first look" review of the ViP722 is great for answering lots of questions about that DVR, and other threads deal with likes, dislikes, problems and solutions.
Review: ViP612/622/722 DVR Support Forum, Contributors to DBSTalk.com
Though not as busy as DBSTalk.com -- and dedicated to lots more than the ViP722 and other DVRs -- there's plenty of good information to be found in this forum. Technical discussions, fixes and how-to hints can be found in a subforum.
Review: The Dish Network Forum, Contributors to Satellite Guys
5. About.com
The Dish Network ViP722 is included in this listing of top DVRs, but the information provided is meager. There's no indication that any testing has been done, or of what criteria was used to select which DVRs made the cut. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Top 10 Digital Video Recorders (DVR), Sal Prince
DVRs - Digital Video Recorders Runners Up:
2 picks including: DBSTalk.com, SatelliteGuys.us…
 |
||
|
|
